Geranium plant named ‘SOPHIE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Sophie’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; strong growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; light purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Geranium cinereum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SOPHIE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Geranium cinereum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sophie’.

The new Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination during the summer of 2006 of two unnamed selections of Geranium cinereum, not patented. The new Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Holsworthy, Devon, United Kingdom during the summer of 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Geranium plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Holsworthy, Devon, United Kingdom since the summer of 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sophie’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sophie’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Strong growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Light purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color.

Plants of the new Geranium can be compared to plants of the Geranium cinereum ‘Heather’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Holsworthy, Devon, United Kingdom, plants of the new Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Heather’ in flower color as plants of ‘Heather’ had lighter-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Geranium were more vigorous and stronger than plants of ‘Heather’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sophie’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sophie’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Sophie’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands in 13-cm containers in an outdoor nursery during the early summer. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Geranium cinereum ‘Sophie’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Geranium             cinereum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed selection of Geranium             cinereum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one month at temperatures of             22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             temperatures of 14° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, moderately fibrous;             greyed white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             outwardly spreading plant habit; flattened globular in             shape.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit; freely basal branching habit with about eight lateral             branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 29.6 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16.8 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to             145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length, basal leaves.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Length, stem leaves.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Width, basal leaves.—About 3 cm.         -   Width, stem leaves.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Shape, basal and stem leaves.—Orbicular.         -   Apex, basal and stem leaves.—Acute.         -   Base, basal and stem leaves.—Hastate.         -   Margin, basal leaves.—Palmately cleft; lobes crenate.         -   Margin, stem leaves.—Palmately cleft to parted; lobes             entire.         -   Venation pattern, basal and stem leaves.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces, basal and stem             leaves.—Moderately pubescent.         -   Color, basal and stem leaves.—Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to N137C. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Between 138B and 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,             close to 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length, basal leaves: About 6.3 cm. Length, stem             leaves: About 1.5 cm. Diameter, basal leaves: About 1 mm.             Diameter, stem leaves: About 0.8 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces, basal and stem leaves: Pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces, basal and stem leaves: Close to             144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged in pairs             arising from apical leaf axils; flowers face upright to             slightly outward.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about twelve             flower buds and open flowers per lateral branch.         -   Flowering season.—In The Netherlands, flowering is             continuous from late spring to late summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Close to             143B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five in a single whorl. Length:             About 1.7 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Mostly smooth; towards the base, densely             pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 77C             to lighter than 77C; towards the base, close to 72B to 72C;             venation, close to 72B to 72C. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 77D to lighter than 77D; towards the base, close to             72B to 72C; venation, close to 72B to 72C. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 77C to lighter than 77C;             towards the base, close to 72B to 72C; venation, close to             72B to 72C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:             Elliptic. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 143A to 143B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 143A to 143B. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 138A to 138B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 30° C.             from vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About ten. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to 182D. Anther length: About 1. mm. Anther width:             About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to             178A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A to             12B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted; reflexed.             Stigma color: Close to 181D. Style length: About 4 mm. Style             color: Close to 144A to 144B. Ovary color: Close to 144B to             144C.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: Five. Length: About 2.5 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 200A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Geranium have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Geranium have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind and have been     observed to be suitable for USDA Zone 5 and tolerate high     temperatures of about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Geranium plant named ‘Sophie’ as illustrated and described. 